1. Four Ways to Apply for a Green Card
Law Offices of Jacqueline Lentini

2. Legal Permanent Resident (“LPR”)
What is a green card?
Allows foreign nationals to work in the US for any employer
Permits self-employment
Cannot vote
Can be deported if commit a crime that would rise to the level of deportation, i.e. a felony

3. Immigration Agencies
-U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
-Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Other Agencies:
Department of State (“DOS”) issues visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad
Department of Labor (“DOL”) oversees H-1B and involved in green card through employment process

4. Ways to apply for a Green Card
Family
Diversity (DV) Lottery
Refugee or Asylee
Employment

5. Red tape

6. 1 - Family
Immediate Family, spouse, children and parent of a U.S. Citizen (USC) means no wait
Unmarried sons and daughters of USC’s 21 years or older (1st Preference)
Spouses & unmarried, minor sons & daughters of Permanent Residents (2A Preference)
Unmarried Sons and Daughters over 21 of LPRs (2B Preference)
Married sons and daughters of USC’s 21 or older (3rd Preference)
Brothers & sisters of USC (4th Preference)
Tell story about DiNovo Adjustment Interview

7. Family Visa Bulletin JULY 2018
All Chargeability Areas, Except Those Listed
China-
Mainland
India
Mexico
Philippines
1st
22 Apr 11
01 Aug 97
01 Jun 06 2A
22 Jun 16
08 Jun 16 2B
15 Aug 11
08 Mar 97
01 Feb 07
3rd
01 May 06
01 Dec 95
15 Apr 95
4th
15 Nov 04
15 Jan 98
22 Mar 95

8. 2 - Diversity Visa Lottery
High school degree required
55,000 limit per fiscal year
Country limit of 7%

9. Diversity Visa Lottery July 2018
Region
Allocation cut-off number
Africa
Current
Except: Egypt - 21,325
Europe
23,325
Asia
Except: Nepal - 6,950
South, Central America & the Caribbean
1,585
Oceania
1,400
North America

10. 3 - Asylee/Refugee: Fleeing Persecution
Refugee applies from outside the U.S.
Asylee applies from within the U.S.
Must establish well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.

11. 4 - Employment
EB-1: Extraordinary Ability, National Interest Waiver, Multi-national Executive or Manager
EB-2: Outstanding Researcher, Professional with an Advanced Degree
EB-3: Professional or Skilled Worker
EB-4: Special immigrants such as reacquisition of citizenship, religious workers
EB-5: Investor program

12. Employment Visa Bulletin July 2018
Employ-ment Based
All Charge-ability, Except those Listed
China,
Mainland
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
India
Mexico
Philippines
Vietnam
1st C
01Jan12
2nd
01Jan15
15Mar09
3rd
01Jan13
01Nov08
01Jan17
Other
Workers
01May07
4th
08Feb16
5th
01Aug14

13. Employment
Alphabet soup of visas: A, B-1/B-2, C, E-1, E-2, E-3, F-1, H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, J-1, K, L-1A, L-1B, M-1, O-1, P-1, R-1, U and V visas
H-1B main visa-apply abroad or from US like many international students seeking to change status in U.S. to work after graduation
Long waits for green card/permanent residency
Visa Bulletin

14. Law Offices of Jacqueline Lentini
Questions
Law Offices of Jacqueline Lentini